Beaufort County Medicare at a glance
| Beaufort County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 11,674 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 26.2% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 15,014 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 8,155 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 54.3% | 57.9% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Among North Carolina’s 100 counties, Beaufort County comes in 46th for residents age 65 and up (11,674). Older adults make up 26.2% of the population here; the state figure is 17.6%. About 3,599 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Census 2023 estimates show 59% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 32% is 75 to 84 and 9% is 85 or older. Medicare Advantage enrollment in Beaufort County is 54.3% of people with Medicare, close to the North Carolina average of 57.9%. Averages cannot choose a plan for you. Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with a Medigap plan each suit different people, depending on doctors, medicines and how you prefer to handle costs, and we compare both at your ZIP code.
Who has Medicare in Beaufort County
Beaufort County is a smaller-city and town county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, adjacent to a metro area. Counties like this often sit between a metro area and rural communities, so some residents use hospitals and specialists in a neighboring county and a plan’s network across the county line matters.
CMS counts 14,632 Medicare beneficiaries in Beaufort County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the North Carolina average of 73. About 14% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 13%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Beaufort County, CMS reported about 562 emergency room visits and 225 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (572) and close to it for hospital stays (210). About 8% received home health care. These figures describe how people use care under Original Medicare; they do not show what any plan covers or costs.
Sources: CMS Medicare Geographic Variation, 2023; USDA Rural-Urban Continuum Codes, 2023.
Insurers choose which counties to serve each year, which means the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick in Beaufort County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Beaufort County; we help Beaufort County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals and doctors near Beaufort County
CMS Hospital General Information lists no acute care, critical access or children’s hospital located inside Beaufort County. Residents often use hospitals in neighboring counties, which matters for Medicare Advantage because a plan’s network may include or leave out the hospital you use. We check your hospitals and doctors before you enroll.
Where people live in Beaufort County
People in Beaufort County live in communities such as Washington (9,683), Belhaven (1,406), Chocowinity (749), Aurora (451), Washington Park (382), Bath (242) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Beaufort County include 27806, 27808, 27814, 27817, 27821, 27860, 27865, 27889. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Beaufort County?
Reach out to us: fill out our short form or call (571) 354-0146, and a licensed agent will compare the plans available to you, check your doctors and drugs, and stay with you each year at renewal. For general Medicare information, the federal helpline is 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Medicare resources from official sources
- Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov, searchable by ZIP code.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Medicare.gov: Medigap on how Medicare Supplement works.
- HealthCare.gov if you are not yet on Medicare.
- North Carolina Department of Insurance: North Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Beaufort County residents
Here is what we can help Beaufort County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance and ICHRA.
Ready to compare plans in Beaufort County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Beaufort County residents
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
Beaufort County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County | 11,634 | 56.5% | 11% | Smaller city/town |
| Lenoir County | 11,901 | 57.8% | 25% | Smaller city/town |
| Granville County | 11,428 | 57.4% | 20% | Smaller city/town |
| Macon County | 11,200 | 45.6% | 10% | Smaller city/town |
| Sampson County | 10,961 | 63.9% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Transylvania County | 10,797 | 51.3% | 8% | Smaller city/town |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.